Yudi Wu
What do you do?
I make art with local community groups. I also create artwork you can interact with, usually integrated with some technology. Sometimes I do both at the same time!
Who do you work with and why?
I mainly work with people in Exeter and South West, with a focus on immigrant, neurodiverse, queer community groups and young people. I believe Exeter, and all the smaller places in the South West are extremely important to work in - with issues such as dispersed population, urbanisation and less-than-ideal diversity, these places are the places where community-led projects could really shine. I’m determined to see the regeneration of this town, by championing the creative agency of those who it has been neglecting.
Name one thing that would make your life easier as an artist or arts organiser.
Not being assumed as an international student because of my face, but rather being recognised properly as a local artist.
And what keeps you going when things get tough?
People in Exeter! I have no regrets about starting my career in Exeter, instead of London - there are so many lovely and supportive people around here, especially so many creatives & artists who are always warm and happy to help. Also, the freedom and space to do art. I came from a very different background,
where art and freedom of expression is a real scarcity. This is a real privilege, and I really hope more people around here can start recognising this privilege as it is something that you need to fight to keep.
Talk us through a favourite project or piece
My favourite project was “What is VTubing and How do I Make it Gay?” a community co-creation workshop that I was commissioned to create with some folks at the University of Bristol. In this workshop, I approach local regeneration for the queer community, with a seemingly unlikely digital method which is popular within the online queer community, Vtubing. The workshop demystified design thinking with ACG culture and character-building, featuring a participant-led creative process using low-tech motion capture in Unreal Engine, which opened up discussions on the possibilities of engaging with local communities virtually. This workshop marked a really important point in my practice, where I started to believe that there’s exciting potential in the intersections of my two seemingly conflicting fields, community arts and creative technology.
What does the next year look like for you?
I’m starting to step into live art - with some of my recent projects such as “Save The Raccon”, a gameshow where I reflected on my experience as an immigrant artist navigating through the UK funding & recognition system; as well as “I MUST ALWAYS FUNCTION!!!”, an all-day performance/experiment where I pretend to be a perfect virtual character all day, inspired by my experience on ADHD masking experience. So - my ambition for next year is to keep on developing these pieces, and take my work to Edinburgh Fringe! I also want to make more Community Arts projects, especially in relation to Exeter’s queer community and neurodiverse community, using the digital spaces and methods to navigate accessible, progressive ways of community making.
What’s been the best moment for you or your group in the last year?
Since we’re at the end of the year - my best moment this year was back at the end of April, when the first Community Arts project that I took the lead on, IMMERGE, held its open studio event, marking an end to the project. With a participant group of young people from immigrant and global majority backgrounds, we really saw them shine in the process, as they were designing to make Exeter a better place where they can feel more belonging. The open studio event, attended by their friends, family and many other members of their communities, was extremely touching to me - it showed me a future where Exeter can become a place where young people from diverse backgrounds can thrive creatively, and generate important social change to the city with their vision.
In what ways are you helping to put Exeter on the cultural map, nationally or internationally?
I believe that I’m putting Exeter on the culture map internationally, by making this place into a place where people from around the world, whether that be international students, refugees or immigrants, would want to and be able to stay in.
What if ….?
Exeter can start taking a more progressive approach of dedicating space for immigrants, queer people, and young people - instead of making blanket statements saying “all are welcomed”? What if, instead of only informing or consulting these people in the making of culture in this city, Exeter can do it with them, or even better, let them take the lead?
How do we find out more?
You can find me on Instagram: @yuekonpotato
& check out my website: yudyw22.myportfolio.com
Or send me an email: yudyw22@gmail.com